Fluid pressure actuated mechanism and control for the same



March 14, 1944. R. H. THOMPSON FLUID PRESSURE ACTUA'I'ED MECHANISM AND CONTROL FOR THE SAME Filed April 19, 1940 MR /Y Patented Mar. 14, 1944 FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MECHANISM AND CONTROL FOR THE SAME Robert H. Thompson, Inyokern, Calif.

Application April 19, 1940, Serial No. 330,627

1 Claim. (Cl. 121-44) This invention relates to power applying means and relates more particularly to means for opening and closing doors, gates, and the like. A general object of this invention is to provide a simplifled, inexpensive, and dependable means for operating garage doors, gates and other objects requiring a controlled movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel fluid pressure actuated means for operating a garage door, a gate or other object.

Another object of this invention is to provide an operating means of the character referred to that may utilize the water pressure in the city water supply system or the domestic water supply lines as the power actuating force.

Another object of this invention is to provide an operating means of the character referred to embodying a novel and very effective remote control including one or more stations located as desired for the control of the device. The operating means of the invention, when employed to operate and control a garage door, may embody a control station at the driveway to the garage and one or more similar stations in th garage and/or dwelling, each operable to actuate the door operating means and to have full control over movement of the door at all times and at all positions of the door.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide an operating means of the character mentioned that requires the employment of the fluid pressure force for moving the door or object in one direction only, movement of the object in the opposite direction being produced by gravity and/or mechanical means and controlled by the retarding action of the fluid exhaust means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an operating means of the class referred to embodying a limber or flexible piston rod. The fluid pressure operating and controlling means is required to exert a force'in only one direction and therefore the piston rod may be flexible to flex in response to movement of the door or object.

A further advantage obtained by the flexible piston rod is that the object may be moved manually without injury to the mechanism and without the necessity of disconnecting any parts of the apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide an operating means or the character mentioned embodying a'novel valve unit controlled by the remote control stations to control the flow of fluid to and from the fluid pressure actuated means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a an operating system or the character mentioned embodying latch meansautomatically latchin the object or door when the same is closed, which means is automatically released when the fluid pressure actuated means is put into operation-to move the object. I

'A further object of this invention is to provide a door operating means of the character referred to that is safe and dependable in use, there being no power applied during the return movement and, therefore, no chance of injury to persons or objects in the path of the door, gate or other equipment. a r The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the-following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the door operating system of the present invention operatively connected with the door of a garage, orthe like, showing the door and certain parts of the garage .in vertical cross section. Fig.2 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3-.is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal detailed sectional view taken as indicated by 1ine 33 on Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5am enlarged fragmentary .vertical detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines 4-] and 5-5, respectively, on Fig. l.

The operating means of the invention may be employed to control and operate. doors, gates, and other objects of various natures, and maybe varied to adapt it for use in different situations. In the drawing, I have illustrated the invention employed to operate the door D of a typical garage IO. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limitedor restricted to the particular form or application about to be described, but is to be taken as. including any features or modification that may fall within the scope of the claim. a

The typical door D is mounted or supported to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis between the closed position 'where it; closes the entrance to the building, or garage 'lll and the raised or open position. ,The means for supporting the door D-comprises typical brackets "I tsecured to the inner side of the door and pivotally mounted on the side walls of the garage! by bearings l2. When. the door D is in the closed position its upper portion bears against a horizontal header or beam l3 above the doorway.

The operating system of the present invention may be said to comprise, generallyya'fluidpressure operated means M for controlling the door D, lock means l5 for locking the door D in its closed position operated or controlled by the means I4, valve means I6 for controlling the passage of fluid pressure to and from the means l4, and remote control means H for the valve means IS.

The operating means I4 is adapted to be actuated by fluid under pressure and, in accordance with the. invention, may be actuated by the water pressure in the domestic water lines or the city water lines to raise the door D to its open position and to control the lowering of the door. The fluid pressure actuated means l4 includes a cylinder l8 and a piston l9 operable in the cylinder. The cylinder It? may be arranged in any convenient or selected location, it being a feature of the invention that the connection between the door D and the operating means l4 allows any preferred or required position of the means H. In the particular case illustrated the. cylinder I 8 is arranged in the garage It. to normally occupy a plane adjacent the plane. of the. beam |-3. The cylinder I8 is positioned some distance at the rear of the door D so that-it does not interfere with the free opening of the. door; The rear endof the cylinder I8 may be open and the cylinder is supported by a. pivot means: or swivel 2-0 to pivot about an axis transverse of the direction of movement of the piston |9. A spring hanger 2| supports the forward portion of the cylinder 8 and allows pivoting of the cylinder. A rod 22 is connected to the piston |9 and extends forward-ly from the cylinder l8. In accordance with the invention the piston rod 22 is limber or flexible and serves to transmit force. to the door D in only one direction. A. head 24 closes the forward end of the cylinder l8 and carries a gland 25 which seals about the rod 22. The rod 22 being small in diameter is easily and dependably packed. A pipe 23 enters the head 24' to communicate with the forward end of the cylinder Hi and is adapted to conduct fluid pressure to and from the cylinder.

The lock means |"5 is optional, that is, it is not essential in everycase. "Furthermore, the means l5 may be. varied greatly inconstruction. The lock means t5 normally locks the door D against movement when in the closed position and is released by the means M to allow free opening of the door D by the said means. The lock means I5 is. such that. it automatically locks the door D when the door returns to its closed position and is such that it may be manually released or opened by a person within the garage III. In the. form of the: invention illustrated the lock means |5 includes a catch. 28 secured to the beam l3 and provided with an upstanding part 29. The catch part 29 has a downwardly facing shoulder or notch 30 at its rear or inner side. The lock means 5 further includes a pivoted bolt or latch 3| for cooperating with the catch 29. A plate 32 is secured to the top of the door D and carries a substantially vertical pivot pin 33. The latch 3| is pivotally supported on the pin 33. The latch 3| is. formed andpositioned to engage in the notch 30- of the catch 28 to prevent upward swinging movement of the door D.

Spring means is provided for urging the latch 3| to its active position. An arm 34 projects rearwardly from the latch 3| and a spring 35 is connected between the arm 34 and a part on the plate 32 to urge the latch 3| to its active position where it cooperates with the notch 30. The forward end of the flexible portion 23 of the piston rod 22 is connected to the latch arm 34. Rearward movement of the piston l9 and the rod 22 first pivots the latch 3| to a released position clear of the catch part 29 and then moves or swings the upper portion of the door D rearwardly so that the door is raised or opened. When the door D is lowered or closed the spring brings the latch 3| to a position where it automatically cooperates with the notch 30 to latch or look the. door in the closed position.

The door D is of the counter-balanced type which has been slightly underbalanced to return or close by gravity. An extensible coiled spring 36 is anchored. to the building or garage wall at 31 and has its forward end connected with the adjacent bracket The spring 36 is under tension when the door D is in the closed position. The spring 36 is. of the type commonly employed to counter-balance doors and its anchor point is shifted to lessen the tension, making the door slightly underbalanced. Th parts are preferably related so thatthedoor Dis stopped against the beam or" any other suitable part to be in a slightly inclined position when fully opened so that it: tends; to close, by gravity. The spring 36 is completely untensioned when the door D is fully opened and does not retard the initial downward movement of the. door. Accordingly, the door D may move closed by gravity and the weight of the door acting through the piston rod 22 moves the piston l9 forwardly in the cylinder |8,'assuming that the pipe 26 is open to permit the discharge of; fluid from in front of the P While I have shown only one spring; 36 it is to be understood that a spring 36 is connected with both. supporting brackets of the door.

The valve means L6. is. operable to put the cylinder pipe 25 in. communication with ajsource of fluid under pressure to operate. the means |;4. so that: the door Dis. opened, is operable to maintain this communication so. that the door is held open, and is. operable to. open. the cylinder pipe 26 for fluid discharge so, that the, door D may close in a controlled manner-1 The. valve means H3 includes a body 39. provided at its, opposite ends with sockets. 40 (see. Fig. 5) Adapters or tubular fittings 41 are. threaded in the sockets 40. A waste pipe or discharge pipe 42 has an end threaded in one. fitting 4|. to communicate with one of the sockets-4|| and. a pipe 43 connected with a source of fluid under pressure is threaded in the other fitting 4| to communicate with the other socket 40. Itv may be considered that the pipe 43 is connected with a water supply system, for example, the city water supply system or the domestic water supply system. A lateral opening 44' is provided in the body 39 and a nipple or fitting 45 connects the cylinder pipe 26 with the valve body- 39 to communicate with the opening 44. A central transverse opening 46 is formed in the valve body 39 and has communication with the inner end of the lateral opening 44. Reduced ports 41. connect the sockets. 43 with the. central opening 46.

The valve means It further includes closures or valves 43 and 45 controlling the ports 41 to govern communication of the pipes 43 and 42 respectively, with the central valve opening 46. Stems 5|! are provided on the valves 48 and 49 and extend inwardly through the. ports 41 to project into the central opening- 46. The valve stems 51] are fluted or otherwise formed to permit the flow of fluid through the ports 41 when their respective valves 48 and 49 are open.

A novel turnable operating member 5| is prothe member 'vided in the opening 46 to cooperate 'with the inner ends of the valve stems 50. The member 5| is polygonal having a plurality of flat surfaces -or-sides 52 joining at corners 53. In accordance "with the invention the member 5| has an uneven number of sides 52, for example, it may have three sides, five sides, seven sides, and so on.

In the case illustrated the member 5| is pentagonal having five sides 52. Where the member valve 48 so that the said valve is closed when a corner 53 is in cooperation with the stem 50 on 'the valve 49 to hold the last named valve open. 'The relationship between the-valves 48 and 49 {isreversed by merely turning the member5| a distance equal to one half the width of a side 52.

Thus, where the member 5| has five sides, the

-' member may be turned one tenth of a revolution to allow one valve 48 or 49 to close and to open the other valve 48 or 49. Springs 54 are arranged under compression between the fittings 4| and the valves 48 and 49 to normally urge the valves to their closed positions. The valve operating member 5| is fixed to a rotatable stem 55. The

stem 55 projects from the side of the valve body 39 and a manual lever 56 issecured to the projecting end of the shaft 55. The lever 56 may be manipulated by a person in the garage to reverse the valves 48 and 49.

The remote control means is operable from one or more stations remote from the valve means I6 to operate or reverse the valve means and thus control the fluid pressure actuated means I4.

The remote control means I! includes a ratchet mechanism at the valve means l6 operable at each actuation to advance the valve member 5| a distance equal to one half the width of its sides 52 and thus cause reversal of the valves 48 and 49. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet 51 fixed to the valve shaft 55 and provided with a-'plurality of ratchet teeth 58. The number of teeth 58 is twice the number of sides 52 on Thus where the member 5| has five sides the ratchet has ten teeth 58. The

' ratchet means further includes a lever 59 pivoted on the valve shaft 55 andcarrying a pivoted pawl 60. A spring 6| yieldingly urges the pawl 50 into cooperation with the ratchet teeth 58.

The remote control means I! further includes one or more remote manual operating stations.

These stations may be located at convenient points, for example, one station may be provided in front of the garage l0 and one or more stations may be provided in the residence or dwelling. The remote manual operating station illustrated in the drawing includes a tubular standard 62 closed at its upper end by a cap 63 and provided at its lower end with a fitting 64. The fitting 64 is preferably, though not necessarily, below the ground level, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A shaft 65 extends longitudinally in the standard 62 and its lower end is rotatably supported in a socket 65 in the fitting 64. An operating lever 61 extends through an arcuate horizontal slot 68 in the wall of the cap 53 and its inner part has an opening 59 receiving the upper portion of the shaft 65. A tubular bearing is rotatable in the cap 63 and the lever 61 is received in aligned transverse openings H in the bearing so that the bearing carries the lever and assists in rotatably suptenor of the cap 63.

'portingithe shaft inthe standard 62. The projecting portion of the lever 61 may have a flat enlargement 12 to be conveniently engaged and operated by the driver of a vehicle approaching or leaving the garage It).

It is preferred to provide means for locking the manual lever 61 against operation so that the door operating means cannot be operated by unauthorized persons. A suitable tumbler lock 13 is shiftable in an opening 14 in the lever enlargement l2 and controls a bolt 15. The bolt 15 passes inwardly through the opening 14 and a transverse opening in the shaft 65 to have its inner end cooperate with a notch 16 in the in- When the lock 13 is depressed and latched in the opening 14 the bolt 15 cooperates with the notch 16 to prevent turning of the lever 61 and the shaft 65. When the lock 13 is conditioned by a key the bolt moves out of the notch 16 freeing the lever 61 and the shaft 65 for operation.

be provided to enclose a guide the flexible connecting member 18 The tubing 88 may extend below the ground surface, as illustrated in Fig. 1. -It is preferred to enclose the valve body 39 and the ratchet means in a housing 8| and the tubing may extend from the fitting 64 to the housing 8|.

Where there are several remote manual operating stations there may be a separate connecting element 18 extending from each station to the ratchet lever 59 or a common connecting element 18 may be employed, if desired. In the drawings I have shown a tubing 82 continuing from the fitting 64 to house and guide a second ratchet lever 59 by the means 19, and operation of either element 18 or 83 causes operation of the ratchet means. A spring 84 is suitably connected with the ratchet lever 59 to return the lever and ratchet pawl 60 and the flexible ele- 'ments I8 and 83 following each operation. The 'pawl 60 merely ratchets-past the teeth 58 when returned by the spring 84 and this operation does not produce turning of the ratchet wheel 51 or the member 5|. Th operating lever 61 of the remote manual operating station is limited in its movement to provide for the operation of the ratchet lever 59 a distance just suflicient to turn the member 5| one tenth of a revolution. In practice the ends of the slot 68 may limit the movement of the lever 61 to provide for the correct operation.

The invention may include an automatic means for illuminating the interior of the building or garage. This means comprises a suitably located electric lamp socket provided with the usual lamp 9|. The switch means of the lamp socket 99 is controlled by a pull cord 92. The pull cord 92 is connected with the cylinder l8 so that the switch means of the lamp socket 99 is operated when the cylinder l8 moves or pivots in response to movement of the door D. The lamp socket 90 may be of the well known pull cord type. When the door D is opened the piston rod 22 is flexed and the strain on the rod causes upward and then downward pivoting of the cylinder I8.

This pulls on the cord 92 and closes the switch means of the socket 90 so that t e lamp 9| is lit. The lamp remains lit as long as the door remains open. When the door D is closed the cylinder l8 again is caused to move upward and downward so that the lamp 9| is extinguished.

In the use or operation of the device of the invention it will first be assumed that the door D is closed and locked by the means I and that the valve means I6 is in the condition illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing where the pressure supply pipe 43 is closed. In this connection it will be observed that the means I4 is normally relieved of fluid pressure and, therefore, is less liable to leak. When it is desired to open the door D the lock 13 is conditioned by a key, or the like, to release the bolt I5 from the notch '16 and the lever 61 is turned. Similar operations may, of course, be performed at any other remote manual operating station. Upon operation of the lever 61 the flexible element 18 is moved to pivot the pawl lever 59 and the pawl 68 cooperates with the ratchet 5'! to turn the valve shaft 55. The valve shaft 55 is turned approximately one tenth of a revolution, bringing a corner 53 into camming engagement with the stem 58 of the valve 48 and bringing a fiat side '52 opposite the end of the stern on the valve 49. Thus the valves 48 and 49 are reversed and fluid pressure from the pipe 43 is admitted to the pipe 26 which conducts it to the forward end of the cylinder I8. Fluid pressure in the cylinder acts on the piston I9 to move the rod 22 rearwardly. At the beginning of the rearward movement of the rod 22 the latch 3| is pivoted out of engagement with the catch part 29 and following the release of the latch 3| the rearward movement of the piston rod is transmitted to the door D and the door is swung upwardly to its open position. The travel of the piston I9 is suflicient to bring the lower portion of the door against the beam IS. The piston rod 22 bends or flexes and the cylinder I8 pivots when the door Dis opened. The movement of the cylinder l8 lights the lamp 9|. With'the door D open the automobile or vehicle may be driven into the garage I0. The fluid pressure in the cylinder l8 acting on the piston I9 holds the door D in its open position until the valve means I5 is again reversed.

To cause closing of the door D the lever 61 or the operating part of another manual operating station is operated to cause operation of the flexible element I8 or the element 83, with the resultant pivoting of the lever 59. Pivoting of the lever 59 results in turning of the ratchet 51 and the member 5| for about one tenth of a revolution. This reverses the valves 48 and 49, the valve 48 closing under the action of its spring 54 and the valve 49 being opened by a corner 53. With the valve 48 closed and the valve 49 opened the fluid under pressure in the cylinder I8 may discharge through the pipes 26 and 42. As de scribed above, the door D is mounted to normally close by gravity and the door automatically swings downwardly pulling the piston rod 22 forwardly. The closing movement of the door D is controlled or retarded by the dashpot action of the piston I9 in the cylinder I8 and the door may close without shock or jar. It is to be observed that the means l4 does not apply power to close the door D, the door closing by gravity under the control of the means I4 and the springs 36. This conserves the fluid pressure and eliminates accidents that may result when power is applied to close the door. When the door D reaches or approaches its closed position the spring urged latch 3| automatically comes into locking engagement with the notch to lock the door D against opening and the lamp 9I is extinguished.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

Mechanism of the character described including a cylinder and piston means, a pipe leading from the cylinder of said means, a source of fluid under pressure, a discharge, valves controlling communication of said source and discharge with the pipe, means tending to close the valves, opposing stems on the valves, a turnable polygonal member between the stems formed to have one of its corners in valve opening engagement with one of the stems when one of its sides is at the other stem where the valve of the last named stem is closed, ratchet means operable to turn the member a distance substantially equal to one-half the width of its sides at each operation to reverse the positions of the valves, a turnable manual operating member remote from the ratchet means, and a flexible element connecting the ratchet means with the manual operating member to be operated thereby.

ROBERT H. THOMPSON. 

